1. Last,final,ultimate refer to what comes as an ending. That which is last comes or stands after all others in a stated series or succession; last may refer to objects or activities: a seat in the last row; the last game. That which is final comes at the end, or serves to end or terminate, admitting of nothing further; final is rarely used of objects: to make a final attempt. That which is ultimate (literally, most remote) is the last that can be reached, as in progression or regression, experience, or a course of investigation: ultimate truths.

last2

[last, lahst] /læst, lɑst/

verb (used without object)

1.

to go on or continue in time:

The festival lasted three weeks.

2.

to continue unexpended or unexhausted; be enough:

We'll enjoy ourselves while our money lasts.

3.

to continue in force, vigor, effectiveness, etc.:

to last for the whole course.

4.

to continue or remain in usable condition for a reasonable period of time:

They were handsome shoes but they didn't last.

verb (used with object)

5.

to continue to survive for the duration of (often followed by out):

They lasted the war in Switzerland.

Origin

before 900;Middle Englishlasten,Old Englishlǣstan to follow (literally, go in the tracks of), perform, continue, last; cognate with Germanlaisten to follow, Gothiclaistjan. See last3

last1

being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others: the last horse in the race

2.

being or occurring just before the present; most recent: last Thursday

3.

last but not least, coming last in order but nevertheless important

4.

last but one, next to last

5.

only remaining: one's last cigarette

6.

most extreme; utmost

7.

least suitable, appropriate, or likely: he was the last person I would have chosen

8.

(esp relating to the end of a person's life or of the world)

final or ultimate: last rites

(capital): the Last Judgment

9.

(postpositive) (Liverpool, dialect) inferior, unpleasant, or contemptible: this ale is last

adverb

10.

after all others; at or in the end: he came last

11.

most recently: he was last seen in the mountains

(in combination): last-mentioned

12.

(sentence modifier) as the last or latest item

noun

13.

the last

a person or thing that is last

the final moment; end

14.

one's last moments before death

15.

the last thing a person can do (esp in the phrase breathe one's last)

16.

the final appearance, mention, or occurrence: we've seen the last of him

17.

at last, in the end; finally

18.

at long last, finally, after difficulty, delay, or irritation

Usage note

Since last can mean either after all others or most recent, it is better to avoid using this word where ambiguity might arise as in her last novel. Final or latest should be used in such contexts to avoid ambiguity

Word Origin

variant of Old English latest, lætest, superlative of late

last2

/lɑːst/

verb

1.

when intr, often foll by for. to remain in being (for a length of time); continue: his hatred lasted for several years

2.

to be sufficient for the needs of (a person) for (a length of time): it will last us until Friday

3.

when intr, often foll by for. to remain fresh, uninjured, or unaltered (for a certain time or duration): he lasted for three hours underground

last3

the wooden or metal form on which a shoe or boot is fashioned or repaired

verb

2.

(transitive) to fit (a shoe or boot) on a last

Derived Forms

laster, noun

Word Origin

Old English lǣste, from lāst footprint; related to Old Norse leistr foot, Gothic laists

last4

/lɑːst/

noun

1.

a unit of weight or capacity having various values in different places and for different commodities. Commonly used values are 2 tons, 2000 pounds, 80 bushels, or 640 gallons

Word Origin

Old English hlæst load; related to hladan to lade1

late

/leɪt/

adjective

1.

occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time: the train was late

2.

(prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced time: a late marriage

3.

(prenominal) towards or near the end: the late evening

4.

at an advanced time in the evening or at night: it was late

5.

(prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present time: his late remarks on industry

6.

(prenominal) having died, esp recently: my late grandfather

7.

(prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; former: the late manager of this firm

8.

of late, recently; lately

adverb

9.

after the correct or expected time: he arrived late

10.

at a relatively advanced age: she married late

11.

recently; lately: as late as yesterday he was selling books

12.

late hours, rising and going to bed later than is usual

13.

late in the day

at a late or advanced stage

too late

Derived Forms

lateness, noun

Usage note

Since late can mean deceased, many people think it is better to avoid using this word to refer to the person who held a post or position before its present holder: the previous (not the late) editor of The Times

"following all others," from Old English latost (adj.) and lætest (adv.), superlative of læt (see late). Cognate with Old Frisian lest, Dutch laatst, Old High German laggost, German letzt. Meaning "most recent" is from c.1200. The noun, "last person or thing," is c.1200, from the adjective. Last hurrah is from the title of Edwin O'Connor's 1956 novel. Last word "final, definitive statement" is from 1650s. A dying person's last words so called by 1740. As an adjective, last-minute attested from 1913. Last-chance (adj.) is from 1962.

"shoemaker's block," from Old English læste, from last "track, footprint, trace," from Proto-Germanic *laist- (cf. Old Norse leistr "the foot," Middle Dutch, Dutch leest "form, model, last," Old High German leist "track, footprint," German Leisten "last," Gothic laistjan "to follow," Old English læran "to teach"); see last (v.).

The sense of "deceased" (as in the late Mrs. Smith) is from late 15c., from an adverbial sense of "recently." Of women's menstrual periods, attested colloquially from 1962. Related: Lateness. As an adverb, from Old English late.